The CDC defines aging in place as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level(1). Between 2005 and 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of persons age 65 and older will increase by 33 percent, making aging in place a very relevant topic(2).
Objectives: The objectives of this page are to:
1 Understand the benefits and rationale behind aging in place. 2 Consider some of the challenges involved with aging in place. 3 Learn about some factors that may facilitate aging in place. 4 Discuss different initiatives for aging in place.
Information About the Test, Condition or Topic
Benefits and rationale behind aging in place Over 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 report that they would either somewhat agree or strongly agree to the statement that “What I’d really like to do is stay in my current residence for as long as possible(2).” Aging in place when done successfully can lead to a more successful aging process by allowing the individual to maintain high mental and physical function; and active engagement with life(3). This may in turn lead to improved clinical outcomes and decreased healthcare utilization(4).
Challenges to aging in place There are a multitude of challenges that seniors face in order to be able to stay in their homes, cost being the main challenge. Many have inadequate incomes to pay for housing costs and those incomes are often further stressed by rising healthcare needs and costs. Seniors living in single-family homes also must take into account the cost of home maintenance and transportation that further serves to augment costs. In addition, many seniors have physical limitations or cognitive impairments that must be addressed by in-home care or structural modification. In the 2000 Census, for example, 9.5 million seniors reported a physical disability and 3.6 million reported a mental disability(4). Home design, community accessibility, and transportation are all significant challenges to seniors wanting to age in place.
Factors that may facilitate aging in place
Home design - Home design is a large factor in the facilitation of aging in place
- Persons 50 and older whose home is able to meet their needs “very” or “somewhat well” as they grow older score better on several successful aging measures(2).
Community recommendations - The AARP has made several recommendations for community engagement to promote aging in place along with a community checklist that can be used as an assessment tool. http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/beyond_50_communities.pdf on pages 92-94
- Transportation connects the home with community activities and social opportunities. People who do not have transportation options cannot easily meet their needs nor contribute to their communities, and they are less satisfied with their communities and their lives(2).
- Factors to consider include community walkability, public transportation, presence of volunteer drivers, distance to grocery,pharmacy, church, etc.
Initiatives for aging in place There are a number of initiatives being developed across the country to promote aging in place. A variety of smart homes have now been constructed. These homes all differ somewhat but in general they utilize technology to monitor the health and functional status of its inhabitants6. While smart home technology may be in its infancy, another positive trend is that of PACE centers (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). These are establishments that provide a variety of healthcare services to the elderly while allowing them to continue to live independently. They are expanding at a rapid pace across the nation. To find out more about PACE visit http://www.npaonline.org/website/article.asp?id=12.
5.) Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, State of the Nation’s Housing: 2004 (Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2004).
The CDC defines aging in place as the ability to live in one’s own home and community safely, independently, and comfortably, regardless of age, income, or ability level(1). Between 2005 and 2020, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates that the population of persons age 65 and older will increase by 33 percent, making aging in place a very relevant topic(2).
Objectives:
The objectives of this page are to:
1 Understand the benefits and rationale behind aging in place.
2 Consider some of the challenges involved with aging in place.
3 Learn about some factors that may facilitate aging in place.
4 Discuss different initiatives for aging in place.
Information About the Test, Condition or Topic
Benefits and rationale behind aging in place
Over 90 percent of adults over the age of 65 report that they would either somewhat agree or strongly agree to the statement that “What I’d really like to do is stay in my current residence for as long as possible(2).” Aging in place when done successfully can lead to a more successful aging process by allowing the individual to maintain high mental and physical function; and active engagement with life(3). This may in turn lead to improved clinical outcomes and decreased healthcare utilization(4).
Challenges to aging in place
There are a multitude of challenges that seniors face in order to be able to stay in their homes, cost being the main challenge. Many have inadequate incomes to pay for housing costs and those incomes are often further stressed by rising healthcare needs and costs. Seniors living in single-family homes also must take into account the cost of home maintenance and transportation that further serves to augment costs. In addition, many seniors have physical limitations or cognitive impairments that must be addressed by in-home care or structural modification. In the 2000 Census, for example, 9.5 million seniors reported a physical disability and 3.6 million reported a mental disability(4). Home design, community accessibility, and transportation are all significant challenges to seniors wanting to age in place.
Factors that may facilitate aging in place
Home design
- Home design is a large factor in the facilitation of aging in place
- Persons 50 and older whose home is able to meet their needs “very” or “somewhat well” as they grow older score better on several successful aging measures(2).
- Universal design concepts can be found here:http://www.toolbase.org/Home-Building-Topics/Universal- Design/aging-in-place-checklists
- Physical therapists can become certified aging-in-place specialists http://www.nahb.org/en/learn/designations/certified-aging-in-place- specialist.aspx
Community recommendations
- The AARP has made several recommendations for community engagement to promote aging in place along with a community checklist that can be used as an assessment tool.
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/beyond_50_communities.pdf on pages 92-94
- The Community Engagement Index is a tool that can be used to assess an older adult’s relationship to their community.
http://assets.aarp.org/rgcenter/il/beyond_50_communities.pdf on page 41
Transportation
- Transportation connects the home with community activities and social opportunities. People who do not have transportation options cannot easily meet their needs nor contribute to their communities, and they are less satisfied with their communities and their lives(2).
- Factors to consider include community walkability, public transportation, presence of volunteer drivers, distance to grocery,pharmacy, church, etc.
Initiatives for aging in place
There are a number of initiatives being developed across the country to promote aging in place. A variety of smart homes have now been constructed. These homes all differ somewhat but in general they utilize technology to monitor the health and functional status of its inhabitants6. While smart home technology may be in its infancy, another positive trend is that of PACE centers (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly). These are establishments that provide a variety of healthcare services to the elderly while allowing them to continue to live independently. They are expanding at a rapid pace across the nation. To find out more about PACE visit http://www.npaonline.org/website/article.asp?id=12.
References
1.) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Healthy Places Terminology. Available from URL: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/terminology.htm
2.) "A Report to the National Livable Communities: Creating Environments for Successful Aging" (PDF).
3.) Rowe, J.W., and Kahn, R.L, Successful Aging (New York: Random House Large Print, 1998), p. 53.
4.) Clinical Outcomes of Aging in Place. Marek, Karen Dorman; Popejoy, Lori; Petroski, Greg; Mehr, David; Rantz, Marilyn; Lin, Wen-Chieh
Nursing Research: May/June 2005 - Volume 54 - Issue 3 - p 202–211
5.) Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, State of the Nation’s Housing: 2004 (Cambridge, MA: Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University, 2004).
6.) Mynatt ED, Melenhorst AS, Fisk AD, and Roger WA. "Aware Technologies for Aging in Place: Understanding User Needs and Attitudes". Georgia Institute of Technology.